Is the UMPI merit scholarship automatic, and how much is it?

Yes for traditional (non-YourPace) students: a $5,000 New Student Scholarship is awarded at the time of acceptance to students who score 1100+ on the SAT (25 ACT) with a 3.3 high-school GPA, OR have a 3.7 GPA (the catalog also allows a 3.5 GPA with no test scores). Direct transfers with a 3.0 GPA and 15 transferable credits receive $2,000.

How do I renew the scholarship?

The award is renewable for up to eight total semesters. You must complete at least 12 credit hours each semester delivered by UMPI and maintain a 3.0 or greater GPA each semester (the transfer version renews for four additional semesters under the same 3.0 GPA / 12-credit rule).

UMaine Presque Isle· Renewal Rules

Keeping UMaine Presque Isle’s Merit Aid for Four Years

What the financial-aid office actually requires after freshman year: minimum GPA, credit-hour pace, and the cliffs that quietly downgrade families mid-degree.

Verified Jun 20264 days ago· CC

At a glance

Renewable tiers: 3 of 3
One-time tiers: 0
Tiers with published renewal terms: 3
Renewal risk profile: moderate

Renewal risk profile

UMaine Presque Isle's renewal bar is achievable for steady students but isn't generous. Most awards require a cumulative GPA in the 3.0–3.4 band plus full-time enrollment. Audit the strictest tier on this school's list before assuming the four-year value is locked in.

New Student (Traditional) Scholarship: See notes
Transfer Student Scholarship: 3.0 GPA
Alumni Association Scholarship: See notes

Renewal terms by tier

New Student (Traditional) Scholarship
$5000
Entry requirements: 3.3 HS GPA (with test score) OR 3.7 HS GPA (no test). Catalog program also allows a 3.5 HS GPA with no test scores needed. GPA · 1100+ combined Evidence-Based Reading & Writing + Math (with 3.3 GPA path) SAT · 25 (with 3.3 GPA path) ACT
To keep it: The underlying Student Academic Scholarship Program (John F. Hill Scholarship) is 'renewable for six additional continuous semesters for a total of eight semesters,' contingent on 'successfully completing a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester, which are delivered by the University of Maine at Presque Isle, and maintaining a 3.0 or greater GPA each semester.'
Source: https://www.umpi.edu/student-financial-services/financial-aid/scholarships/
Transfer Student Scholarship
$2000
Entry requirements: 3.0 transfer GPA (scholarships page); 2.75 cumulative GPA in the catalog's Transfer Achievement Scholarship description GPA
To keep it: The catalog's Transfer Achievement Scholarship is 'renewable for four additional continuous semesters and is dependent on certain criteria; maintaining a 3.0 cumulative grade point average per semester at UMPI, and successfully completing 12 semester hours of credit delivered by UMPI each semester.' Catalog renewal eligibility cites a 2.75 entering GPA / 15 credits; the scholarships page states a 3.0 GPA / 15 transferable credits to earn it.
Source: https://www.umpi.edu/student-financial-services/financial-aid/scholarships/
Alumni Association Scholarship
$500
Entry requirements: 3.50 cumulative GPA or better GPA
To keep it: Renewal terms not stated; described as awarded annually.
Source: https://catalog.umpi.edu/content.php?catoid=3&navoid=129

How families lose this aid

Thinking the $5,000 award is locked in for four years no matter what.
It is renewable for up to eight total semesters, but only if you complete at least 12 credit hours each semester that are delivered by UMPI and keep a 3.0 or greater GPA each semester. Dropping below 12 UMPI credits or under a 3.0 in any semester can end the award.
Expecting a big published merit grid like a flagship university.
UMPI publishes one automatic merit amount ($5,000 new student / $2,000 transfer). It is not UMaine Orono — there is no large GPA-banded scholarship grid. Most other named awards are local foundation or donor scholarships without published amounts.

Renewal questions families ask

Is the UMPI merit scholarship automatic, and how much is it?: Yes for traditional (non-YourPace) students: a $5,000 New Student Scholarship is awarded at the time of acceptance to students who score 1100+ on the SAT (25 ACT) with a 3.3 high-school GPA, OR have a 3.7 GPA (the catalog also allows a 3.5 GPA with no test scores). Direct transfers with a 3.0 GPA and 15 transferable credits receive $2,000.
How do I renew the scholarship?: The award is renewable for up to eight total semesters. You must complete at least 12 credit hours each semester delivered by UMPI and maintain a 3.0 or greater GPA each semester (the transfer version renews for four additional semesters under the same 3.0 GPA / 12-credit rule).

How UMaine Presque Isle compares across our verified dataset

669 of 751 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.
UMaine Presque Isle is one of them. The cohort minority (82 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.

Sources used on this page

Every renewal claim is checked against UMaine Presque Isle’s own published materials.